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Trompe-L’œil and Decorative Painting

Trompe-l’oeil is the art of painting in a style which deceives the eye of the onlooker, causing him to accept an illusion as a reality.

It is a trick of the eye: "The hand touched a flat surface and the eye, forever charmed, perceived in relief", Denis DIDEROT.

Trompe-l’œil, the art of illusion

"Having become more or less a figure of speech now, the notion of trompe-l'oeil has become distanced from its deeper meaning. Whilst pleasing the 'spirit' of the viewer, the real trompe-l'oeil remains in essence an artwork, in the case of a painting, which is designed to substitute itself for a reality. It must mystify the eyes, cause the viewer to believe that the painted objects of a two dimensional surface are in fact three dimensional, and real.

The eyes must tell the viewer that what he sees is a real part of his everyday world; his reaction is being not to accept this as illusion, but to reach out and touch, to test that reality, needing to replace the sense of vision with the sense of touch. The dilusion should be absolute, despite the logic that tells otherwise.

This is the deliberate intension of the artist, who is entering into a game with his spectator. He creates a feeling of fascinating uncertainty between the image and the viewer."

Miriam MILMAN, Privat Lecturer, Lausanne University

There are different categories of trompe-l’œil:

- monumental trompe-l’œil
- easel trompe-l’œil
- urban trompe-l’œil
- interior trompe-l’œil